Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic headache disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating assignments for various conditions, including gout, a skin condition, left foot osteoarthritis, scars from surgery, hallux valgus, migraine headaches, and sleep apnea. The appeals were either not about service connection or did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied higher initial disability ratings for tension headaches and GERD with IBS, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee strain case was remanded, while the migraine headaches case resulted in a rating decision denying an increase to more than 30 percent. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded all other issues due to lack of evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma should be readjudicated, but has not found new and relevant evidence. The issue of service connection for headaches is being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence. The claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, eye disability (blurred vision), bilateral hearing loss disability, respiratory disability (COPD, lung condition with patch), sleep apnea, prostate disability, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for migraines as due to a service-connected disability, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise and favoring the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of residuals of an anal fissure, residuals of a hernia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), genital herpes, Hepatitis B, hypertension, headaches, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, and vestibular disorder have been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depression, TBI, Posttraumatic Headaches, Right Patellar Tendonitis, Scalp Scar, Left Patellar Tendonitis, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and BPPV have been granted. The headaches disorder claim is secondary to the service-connected conditions.,An effective date of October 8, 2015 has been assigned for all service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted at a 10% level effective June 3, 2015. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder, low back, left foot, headache, and sciatic nerve disabilities due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the service connection claims related to rheumatoid arthritis and migraines/headaches due to potential medical opinions needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%, migraine headaches are rated at 50%, and lumbosacral DDD, right knee cyst removal, right ear tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss are all rated at 10%. The combined rating for these conditions results in an 80% disability rating. The Veteran's appeal is denied as his PTSD does not warrant a higher than 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, headaches, and bilateral lower extremity disability due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for anal dysplasia, herpes, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, and pneumonia. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to a lack of proper development.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches on a presumptive basis. The cases of low back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has ordered a new examination to assess the Veteran's occluded vertebral artery and its associated symptoms, as it is unclear if his current symptoms are related to the injury.